Questions on a Kicker upgrade?

[Gunz86]

Have a 12' quad cab Express and want to upgrade the speakers and keep the HU the same, I currently have the non-alpine upraded system with the RES hu. I dont know much about audio but stopped by one of the local audio shops nearby and was recommended:

KS525 for the rear ($99)
KS693 for the front ($119)
KX400.4 amp ($349.95)
Total-$567.95 not including labor

Including installation cost everything was just shy of $1K dollars. I am not very familiar with audio but what I do know is that I want to keep the truck for as long as I can and would love to make a change and keep it that way so want to do it right the first time. Want to upgrade with sub and HU at later date. Any advice and opinions is greatly appreciated.

 

[Gunz86]

Nothing?

 

[Cynix]

Well I can't say anything about the kicker stuff personally, but when I upgraded I went with
Focal performance 6.5 components in the front(1 inch tweeter sits where the 3.5 was)
Focal 6x9 performance coaxial in the back
Jl stealth box for under the rear seat in my quad cab
Jl xd300.1 for the amp for the sub
All in all it sounds amazing to me.. May amp the speakers later down the road but for now they sound awesome just on their own running off the stock 8.4 screen

 

[cableguy_hd]

if you waited on the amp you could do the door and dash stuff yourself. I did a few weeks ago and it wasn't to bad. I was a little nervous but got it done. Theres a DIY section and a guy there documented very well on how to remove the dash and door speakers. I read over that and got the nerve up. I'm keeping my stock HU and adding speakers, mono amp for 2 subs under the seat.

 

[ramforme]

Well I can't say anything about the kicker stuff personally, but when I upgraded I went with
Focal performance 6.5 components in the front(1 inch tweeter sits where the 3.5 was)
Focal 6x9 performance coaxial in the back
Jl stealth box for under the rear seat in my quad cab
Jl xd300.1 for the amp for the sub
All in all it sounds amazing to me.. May amp the speakers later down the road but for now they sound awesome just on their own running off the stock 8.4 screen

Sounds like a nice setup.
Can I ask, where did you order the Focal speakers? Also, did you have to cut or drill to put the 6.5 in where the 6x9's are? Adapter plate?
Also, how did you mount the tweeters in the 3.5 space? Is there a readily available adapter plate?

Did you remove the center speaker?

 

[Cynix]

Sounds like a nice setup.
Can I ask, where did you order the Focal speakers? Also, did you have to cut or drill to put the 6.5 in where the 6x9's are? Adapter plate?
Also, how did you mount the tweeters in the 3.5 space? Is there a readily available adapter plate?

Did you remove the center speaker?

I picked up the focal speakers at a local shop... Certified radio, I dunno if you have them where you are but they do awesome work

They made mdf adapter plates for both the 6.5 speakers and the 1'' tweets, they also painted Em black to blend in behind the grills! All in all it was worth every penny I spent Imo

I believe you can pick up adapter plates for both of those sizes but they are made of plastic so I dunno how you feel about that

 

[Gunz86]

Not sure what size the back doors will take but the shop said they were like 5 and a quarter, I am pretty sure I want to power them with an amp and that is where I am unsure of myself.

Would components hit harder than 6 x 9's, if so I would like to maybe go that route. I asked the shop about sound dampening material for behind the doors but they didn't seem to think it was needed.

 

[Cynix]

Not sure what size the back doors will take but the shop said they were like 5 and a quarter, I am pretty sure I want to power them with an amp and that is where I am unsure of myself.

Would components hit harder than 6 x 9's, if so I would like to maybe go that route. I asked the shop about sound dampening material for behind the doors but they didn't seem to think it was needed.

Depends on the year of the truck but all 4th gens are 6x9 in the rear I believe . at least I know my 13' is

 

[Graygoose]

Does that include all new wiring from amp to doors?

 

[ramforme]

Well I can't say anything about the kicker stuff personally, but when I upgraded I went with
Focal performance 6.5 components in the front(1 inch tweeter sits where the 3.5 was)
Focal 6x9 performance coaxial in the back
Jl stealth box for under the rear seat in my quad cab
Jl xd300.1 for the amp for the sub
All in all it sounds amazing to me.. May amp the speakers later down the road but for now they sound awesome just on their own running off the stock 8.4 screen

I looked but it seemed that every focal I found was 4 ohms not the 2 ohms that the factory speakers are. Were yours 4 ohm? Exactly what models did you use? Did you just wire them up from the factory wiring that is going to the 3.5 or did you use a separate crossover?

 

[Gunz86]

Does that include all new wiring from amp to doors?

I believe that was everything including wiring, doesn't seem like to many people are saying anything about the speakers I listed so I am going to start looking at some other gear.

 

[Graygoose]

I believe that was everything including wiring, doesn't seem like to many people are saying anything about the speakers I listed so I am going to start looking at some other gear.

well, me working for Kicker I didnt want to seem biased, but...

I think you'll love them, I have access to about anything, and am running the KS if that tells you anything.
The KX400.4 is the new badboy just released this year, has better options then the previous ZX line.

 

[Gunz86]

well, me working for Kicker I didnt want to seem biased, but...

I think you'll love them, I have access to about anything, and am running the KS if that tells you anything.
The KX400.4 is the new badboy just released this year, has better options then the previous ZX line.

Do the components have more bass than the 6 x 9 speakers, still not sure if which one i want in the front and can I fit 6x9 in the back with quad doors

 

[Gunz86]

Thanks for the info on the amp, feel a little more comfortable knowing that the shop was recommending some new gear.

 

[Graygoose]

Yes, that amp has been out maybe 2 months.
If you do the 6x9 DS components, then you can put tweeter in 3.5" spot, save that cash...just a thought.

 

[Gunz86]

Yes, that amp has been out maybe 2 months.
If you do the 6x9 DS components, then you can put tweeter in 3.5" spot, save that cash...just a thought.

Haven't checked yet since I am not home but does the dash already have speakers and replacing them with tweeters be sufficient, I was thinking about getting kicker up there as well.